Method for Monitoring and Control of a Wastewater Process Stream

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed towards methods, compositions, and apparatus for accurately detecting the presence and amounts of contaminants in wastewater. The method comprises the steps of adding to a volume of wastewater at least one tracer molecule, observing the tracer for indications of particular contaminants, conducting at least one second form of contamination detection, and interrelating the two measured properties to identify the specific composition of the contamination. Using a tracer molecule allows for the detection of otherwise hard to detect oils and grease. Use of the second method however compensates for tracer interfering contaminants and allows for more accurate readings. The invention includes feeding of functional chemicals in response to the detections and conducting the detections online and continuously.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/242,014, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/405,807 filed on Mar. 17, 2009, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein in their entireties by reference for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to methods of, and apparatus andcompositions of matter useful in wastewater processing. Variousindustrial processes result in numerous forms of contamination,collecting in wastewater such as grease and oils. This contamination isproblematic as it complicates the manner in which the wastewater can: bedisposed of. Various techniques are available for disposing ofcontaminating oils and grease but they are dependent on knowing whatkind and how much of various contaminants are present within a volume ofwastewater.

Various prior art methods exist to determine the contaminant content ofwastewater. These methods include gravimetric analysis, directmeasurements (such as US EPA Method 1664), colorimetric methods, UVmethods, Fluorescent methods, IR Absorption, and gas chromatography.Many of these methods are described in both online and offline forms inInternational Patent Application WO 2010/007390 A2.

Of these methods, a particularly interesting approach is the use ofpolarity-sensitive fluorescent dyes. These dyes interact such that whenparticular oils are present they delectably fluoresce but do notfluoresce when those dyes are absent. This method however suffers fromdetection difficulties because background, interference and theinterplay of multiple oil types result in confusing and unreliablefluorescence readings.

It is therefore useful and desirable to provide methods and apparatus tobetter detect the presence of oils and grease in wastewater. The artdescribed in this section is not intended to constitute an admissionthat any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is“Prior Art” with respect to Hits invention, unless specificallydesignated as such. In addition, this section should not be construed tomean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent informationas defined in 37 CFR § 1.56(a) exists.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least one embodiment of the invention is directed to a method ofaccurately detecting the presence and amounts of specific contaminantsin at least one liquid comprising the steps of: 1) providing a volume ofliquid, 2) conducting a method of contamination detection capable ofmeasuring the amount of turbidity in the volume of liquid and interringfrom that the amount of turbidity causing contaminants within theliquid, 3) selecting a correcting factor by identifying which of aseries of pre-determined correction factors corresponds with the degreeto which the measured amount of turbidity scatters light coming from aspecific tracer and thereby alters die amount of a change influorescence that occurs within the specific liquid when the tracer isin the presence of an oil, 4) introducing the specific tracer into theliquid, 5) measuring the change in fluorescence emitted by introducingthe specific tracer into the liquid, 6) correcting the measured changein fluorescence by adjusting the measured change according to theselected correction factor, 7) calculating the amount of oil within theliquid from the corrected measured change in fluorescence, and 8)calculating the amount of non-oil contaminant within the liquid bysubtracting the calculated amount of oil from the calculated amount ofturbidity causing contaminants.

The tracer may be polarity-sensitive and displays detectable propertieswhen in water and in the presence of oil but not when in water absenttire oil. The tracers fluorescence may be quenched when in the presenceof oil or enhanced when in the presence of oil. The method may farthercomprise the step of measuring the tracer both before and after addingthe adding the non-polar-contaminant removing chemical and using thedifference in measurements to determine the amount ofnon-polar-contaminant in the liquid, lire liquid may be selected fromthe list consisting of: wastewater clarifier effluent or influent,water, alcohol, and any combination thereof. The method may furthercomprise using an optical emission source, which emits light into theliquid thereby facilitating the detection of the tracer's properties.The detectable properties may be detected by an apparatus constructedand arranged to detect at a particular setting selected from the listconsisting of: wavelength, emission intensity, absorbance of emittedlight or energy, and any combination thereof. The non-oil turbidity maybe identified as solid particulates. The method may further comprise thestep of adding a functional chemical to the liquid in response to thedetected contaminant, the functional chemical being one that which isparticularly suited to remediate the presence of the particularcontaminant detected. The functional chemical may be selected from thelist consisting of: biocides, dispersants, flocculant, surfactants,emulsifiers, demulsifiers, inorganics, acid, base, corrosion inhibitors,water, and solvent. The liquid may be a sample diverted from a processstream and the detection is performed on the sample. The detection maybe performed on a continuous basis and the tracer detection is optimizedfor a specific flow of liquid past a sensor. The method may furthercomprising using control equipment in informational connection with thedetections wherein the control equipment receives data from thedetection and appropriately releases at least one functional chemicalinto the liquid. The material causing the turbidity may emit its ownfluorescence and the correction factor takes the turbidity emittedfluorescence into account.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from, the following Detailed Description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following definitions are provided to determine how terms used inthis application, and in particular how the claims, are to be construed.The organization of the definitions is for convenience only and is notintended to limit any of the definitions to any particular category.

“Bulk sample” means a sample whose constituents have not beenspecifically separated, except bulk sample may include, a separationbased upon size.

“Oil” means any liquid having a higher viscosity than water and includesbut is not limited to hydrocarbon liquids and grease.

“Polarity Sensitive” means a composition of matter (including but notlimited to a dye) that has a shifting absorbance and/or fluorescenceemission wavelength depending on the polarity of its surroundings and/orthe presence of hydrophobic materials.

“Solvatochromatic” means a composition of matter (including but notlimited to is a dye) that has a shifting absorbance and/or fluorescenceemission wavelength depending on the polarity of its surroundings.

“Tracer” means a composition of matter which reacts to the presence ofan oil within another liquid by changing the degree to which itfluoresces light, the change may be an increase, decrease, initiation,and/or termination of fluorescence.

“Turbidity” means the extent to which there is a decrease in thetransparency of a liquid due to the presence of transparency reducingmaterials within the liquid, such materials Include but are not limitedto oil, solid particulate matter, dissolved matter, dispersed matter,and any combination thereof, changes in turbidity may or may notaccompany changes in viscosity or other properties of the liquid.

“Wastewaterprocess” means any process in which wastewater influent istreated and is released as effluent.

In the event that the above definitions or a description statedelsewhere in this application is inconsistent with, a meaning (explicitor implicit) which is commonly used, in a dictionary, or stated in asource incorporated by reference into this application, the applicationand the claim terms in particular are understood to be construedaccording to the definition or description in this application, and notaccording to the common definition, dictionary definition, or thedefinition that was incorporated by reference. In light of the above, inthe event that a term can only be understood if it is construed by adictionary, if the term is defined by the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia ofChemical Technology, 5th Edition, (2005), (Published by Wiley, John &Sons, Inc.) this definition shall control how the term is to be definedIn the claims.

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus forusing one or more sensors to control the feed of functional chemicals toa wastewater handling process. In at least one embodiment two or moreproperties of a wastewater volume is detected and in response to thedetected properties one or more functional chemicals are added to thewastewater. The properties include but are not limited to anycombination of one some or all of: turbidity, suspended solids, solventextraction, streaming potential, TOC (total organic carbon), BOD(biological oxygen demand), QRP (oxygen-reduction potential), pH,temperature, liquid flow, mass flow, absorbance of various lightspectra, and fluorescence. The functional chemicals include but are notlimited to biocides, dispersants, flocculant, surfactants, emulsifiers,demulsifiers, acid, base, corrosion inhibitors, water, and solvent.

By looking at two or more parameters, a problem faced by many prior artmethods is overcome. Because no single measurement can account for everykind of contaminant in wastewater, prior art methods using only onedetection method would provide incomplete, results. For example TSS iscommonly used to account for the level of solids contamination inwastewater, TSS however will not account for grease and oil. In at leastone embodiment, a TSS measurement is conducted as well as a solventextraction process to account for oils and grease as well.

In at least one embodiment at least one of the parameters is detected byplacing a tracer molecule in the water. A tracer molecule is a molecule,which undergoes a detectable change when a particular contaminant ispresent in a volume of water. In at least one embodiment the molecule isa solvatochromatic tracer. In at least one embodiment the detectablechange in the tracer is detectable using at least one of fluorescencespectroscopy and absorbance spectroscopy. In at least one embodiment thetracer is one of the sort described in, and is used in the mannerdescribed in US Published patent application 2009/0260767 and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/405797.

In another embodiment, the dye is selected from9-diethylamino-5H-benzo[alpha]phenoxazine-5-one,1-dimethylamino-5-sulfamoyl-naphthalene, pyrene, 1-pyrenecarbaldehyde,Reichardt's dye, 4-aminophthalimide, 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phthalimide,bromonapthalene, 2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene, and combinations thereof.

In at least one embodiment the method of accurately detecting thepresence and amounts of specific contaminants in at least one liquidcomprises the following steps:

-   -   providing a volume of liquid,    -   conducting a method of contamination detection capable of        measuring the amount of turbidity in the volume of liquid,    -   selecting a correcting factor by identifying which of a series        of pre-determined correction factors corresponds with the degree        to which the measured amount of turbidity scatters light coming        from a specific tracer and thereby alters the amount of a change        in fluorescence that occurs within the specific liquid when the        tracer is in the presence of an oil, introducing the tracer        molecule into the liquid,    -   measuring the change in fluorescence emitted by introducing the        first tracer molecule into the liquid,    -   correcting the measured change in fluorescence by adjusting the        measured change according to the selected correction factor,    -   calculating the amount of oil within the liquid from the        corrected measured change in fluorescence, and    -   calculating the amount of non-oil contaminant within the liquid        by subtracting the calculated amount of oil from the calculated        amount of turbidity.

This method allows for the determination of how much of the turbidity iscaused by the oil and how much my dispersed particulate matter. Itovercomes previous problems that resulted from the turbidity interferingwith the effects of the tracer molecule and thereby providing incorrectflorescence readings.

In at least one embodiment more than one tracer is used. This addressessituations in which a single tracer is not accurate in the presence ofevery sort of contaminant. In at least one embodiment the tracer ispolarity-sensitive.

In at least one embodiment a combination of sensors is used to determinethe demand for functional chemicals and/or to control the dosage of saidchemicals. In at least one embodiment the tracer molecule is used todetermine the level of hydrophobic contaminants in the process stream.The discharge of hydrophobic materials is important not only from aregulation standpoint, but it can also negatively impact the biologicalactivity in aerobic basins. Therefore, the use of a solvatochromatictracer is used in addition to conventional measurements as a means ofdetermining the level of hydrophobic contamination in a process streamto be used in a system controlling the dose of functional chemicalsadded to clean the process waters. In at least one embodiment the tracermolecule may require the use of fluorescence spectroscopy, absorbancespectroscopy or a combination of the two measurements. The measurementof hydrophobic contamination may also prove to be more accurate with theuse of more than a single tracer dye. Wastewater can contain substancesthat may interfere with either the measurement of fluorescence emissionor overlap with the absorption peak of a tracer. Therefore, the use ofmore than one type of tracer dye is more favorable in determining thelevel of hydrophobic contamination in a process stream, especially ifthe means of measurement are different (fluorescence vs, absorbance).

In at least one embodiment, in order to properly measure thefluorescence emission using a solvatochromatic tracer, a fluorometer iscustomized for particular wavelength, excitation, and gain settings. Inat least one embodiment the water sample being measured is online andthe fluorometer is customized for a particular flow rate and tracer doserate. Because the maximum intensity of a polarity-sensitivedye isrelated to how hydrophobic the particular contaminant is, in at leastone embodiment the fluorometer is constructed and arranged to measurethe changing fluoroesence intensity and changing emission wavelength. Inat least one embodiment the fluorometer is constructed and arranged tocompensate for changes in these detections in compensation for themedium surrounding the dye.

In at least one embodiment the tracer is provided a sufficient amount oftime to interact with the contaminant before the detection process isconcluded.

In at least one embodiment, after the tracer is added to a water sample,at least one functional chemical is added to the sample, which decreasesthe presence of known non-polar contaminants. The detection of thetracer is often enhanced by reducing the presence of non-polarcontaminants, which might otherwise interfere with the tracer.

In at least one embodiment, the detectable properties of a tracer isobserved both before and after a functional chemical is added to thesample which decreases the presence of known non-polar contaminants todetermine the quantity of non-polar contaminants within the sample.

In at least one embodiment the sample to be analyzed is the effluentand/or the influent of a wastewater clarifier, (also add DAF, aerationbasin, membrane)

In at least one embodiment the tracer is mixed with a solvent prior toits introduction into a water volume.

The tracer detections can be performed according to a pre-determinedschedule, intermittently, or continuously. In at least one embodimentthe wastewater volume is analyzed by a handheld analyzer. In at leastone embodiment the tracer is added directly to a wastewater containingtank or pipe. In at least one embodiment the analyzed volume is a samplediverted from the process stream. In at least one embodiment thedetection results are fed to control equipment, which appropriately addfunctional chemicals to the wastewater process stream in response to andto remedy the detection results. In at least one embodiment this controland detection equipment form a closed control loop.

In at least one embodiment, to properly measure the fluorescenceemission using a solvatochromatic tracer, a fluorometer is customizedfor the proper excitation and emission wavelengths, gain settings and,in the ease of online measurement, the proper flow rate of the samplethrough the fluorometer and dose of solvatochromatic tracer. Due to thenature of solvatochromatic dyes, it is expected that the emissionwavelength has a maximum intensity that is dependent on the degree ofhydrophobicity of the sample. Therefore, the fluorometer must be is setup to measure both the fluctuating fluorescence intensity, and thechanging emission λ_(max) depending on the medium surrounding the dye.

By using the output from a combination of the aforementioned signals,the present invention also provides for a method for measuring theeffectiveness of one or more chemicals that decrease the amount of oneor more contaminants in a wastewater process: (a) monitoring one or moretypes of contaminants in a wastewater process comprising: obtaining abulk sample of fluid from said wastewater process; selecting asolvatochromatic dye that is capable of interacting with saidcontaminants in said fluid and providing an optical signal in saidfluid; adding said dye to said fluid and allowing a sufficient amount oftime for said dye to interact with said contaminants in said fluid;measuring the fluorescence, absorbance or spectral shift of the dye insaid fluid; arid correlating the response of the dye with feeconcentration of said contaminants; (b) adding one or more chemicals tosaid wastewater process that decrease the amount of said nonpolarcontaminants in said wastewater process; (c) re-measuring the amount ofcontaminants in said wastewater process by performing step (a) at leastone more time; and (d) optionally controlling the amount of saidchemicals that are added to said wastewater process.

In at least one embodiment the process applies to measuring theeffectiveness of one or more chemicals that decrease the amount of oneor more contaminants in a wastewater process using the otheraforementioned signals, such as turbidity, suspended solids, solventextraction, streaming potential, TOC, BOD, ORP, pH, temperature orabsorbance.

In at least one embodiment the method involves monitoring one or moretypes of nonpolar materials in a wastewater process comprising: (a)obtaining a sample of fluid from said wastewater process: (b) selectinga solvatochromatic dye that is capable of interacting with said nonpolarmaterials in said fluid and providing an optical signal in said fluid;(c) adding said dye to said fluid and allowing a sufficient amount oftime for said dye to interact with said nonpolar materials in saidfluid.; (d) measuring the fluorescence, absorbance or spectral shift ofthe dye in said fluid; (e) correlating the optical response of the dyewith the concentration of said contaminants; and (f) optionallycontrolling the amount of one or more chemicals added to said wastewaterprocess that reduce, separate or inactivate said nonpolar materials.

In at least one embodiment the method is for monitoring one or moretypes of nonpolar materials in a wastewater process comprising: (a)obtaining a sample of fluid from said wastewater process; (b) selectinga solvatochromatic dye that is capable of interacting with said nonpolarmaterials in said fluid and providing an optical signal in said fluid;(c) adding said dye to said fluid and allowing a sufficient amount oftime for said dye to interact with said nonpolar materials in saidfluid; (d) measuring the fluorescence, absorbance or spectral shift ofthe dye in said fluid; (e) correlating the optical response of the dyewith the concentration of said contaminants; and (f) optionallycontrolling the amount of one or more chemicals added to said wastewaterprocess that reduce, separate or inactivate said nonpolar materials.

In at least one embodiment the method is for monitoring one or moretypes of one or more chemicals that decrease the amount of one or morenonpolar contaminants in a wastewater process: (a) monitoring one ormore types of contaminants in a wastewater process comprising: obtaininga bulk sample of fluid from said wastewater process; selecting asolvatochromatic dye that is capable of interacting with saidcontaminants in said fluid and providing an optical signal in saidfluid; adding said dye to said fluid and allowing a sufficient amount oftime for said dye to interact with said contaminants In said fluid;measuring the fluorescence, absorbance or spectral shift of the dye insaid fluid; and correlating the response of the dye with theconcentration of said contaminants; (b) adding one or more chemicals tosaid wastewater process that decrease the amount of said nonpolarcontaminants in said wastewater process; (e) re-measuring the amount ofcontaminants in said wastewater process by performing step (a) at leastone more time; and (d) optionally controlling the amount of saidchemicals that are added to said wastewater process.

It is important to note that the technique can be used in a batchmanner, where a sample is taken from the process and measuredoccasionally, or in a continuous manner where the measurement is made ina sidestream that is being treated with the solvatochromatic dye.

In at least one embodiment the dyes that are added to the sample areable to stain or interact wife the nonpolar contaminants, e.g. oil,grease, fats, surfactants.

In at least one embodiment, the turbidity of the fluid is also measured.In a further embodiment, die turbidity of said fluid is measured beforeand after the addition of said chemicals. In another embodiment, thesample is taken from a dilute sample point off a wastewater process,e.g. the effluent of the clarifier. In a further embodiment, the samplepoint is the influent of a clarifier. The reasoning postulated for thiscollection/sample point is that the performance of theclarification/separation step can be monitored by measuring theconcentration of nonpolar contaminants in the influent and effluent.

In at least one embodiment the dye added to a sample has a sufficientamount of time to Interact with the contaminants in the fluid prior toits fluorescent measurement. One of ordinary skill in the art coulddetermine a sufficient amount of time for said interaction without undueexperimentation.

In one embodiment, the dye is mixed with a solvent prior to its additionto said fluid. One of ordinary skill in the art could determine anadequate time for mixing without undue experimentation.

In another embodiment, the nonpolar contaminants are selected from thegroup consisting of; oil, grease, petroleum-based nonpolar hydrocarbons,amphiphiles, fats, fatty acids, aromatics, surfactants, polymers and acombination thereof.

In another embodiment, the method is an on-line method and/or batchsample method.

In another embodiment, the optical measurement (absorbance,fluorescence) is performed at a pre-set basis, intermittent basis,and/or continuous basis. For example, a flow cell can be utilized as ameans for measuring the fluorescence or absorbance of said nonpolarcontaminants. More specifically, in one embodiment, a process formeasurement comprises: the addition of one or more optical tracers to asample obtained from a wastewater process prior to its opticalmeasurement in said flow cell. One of ordinary skill in the art would beable to carry out this process without undue experimentation. Forexample, one could utilize flow injection analysis and/or sequenceinjection analysis techniques to carry out the above-referencedmeasurement protocol.

In another embodiment, the optical measurement is performed with ahandheld spectrometer. An optical measurement may be carried out withother types of fluorometers or absorbance spectrometers.

The present invention also provides for a method of measuring theeffectiveness of one or more chemicals that separate nonpolar materialsfrom a wastewater process. The information on the amount of nonpolarcontaminants in a fluid can be utilized to form a control loop for theaddition of one or more chemicals, which can be used to control theamount of nonpolar contaminants.

In one embodiment, the methodology for monitoring the nonpolarcontaminants can be measured by the above-stated fluorescence,absorbance or spectral shift methodology and its various embodiments.

In another embodiment, a determination of the amount of nonpolarcontaminants is measured by the above-mentioned protocol, thensubsequent to this step, an addition of one or more chemicals to thewastewater process to treat the contaminants, e.g. increase/decrease inthe same chemistry for contaminant separation or change in the chemistrytreatment program for contaminant separation, and then subsequent to thetreatment step, a re-measurement of the amount of contaminants in saidwastewater process by the above-mentioned protocol.

In another embodiment, the chemicals are at least one of the following:a coagulant; a flocculant; a dispersant; an acid; an inorganic; ademulsifier; and a surfactant.

While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, theredescribed in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of theinvention. The present disclosure is an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the inventionto the particular embodiments illustrated. All patents, patentapplications, scientific papers, and any other referenced materialsmentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.Furthermore, the invention encompasses any possible combination of someor all of the various embodiments described herein and incorporatedherein and with or without the exclusion of one or more of those variousdescribed and/or incorporated embodiments.

The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive.This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one ofordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations areintended to be included within the- scope of the claims where the term“comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar withthe art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodimentsdescribed hereto which equivalents are also intended to be encompassedby the claims.

All ranges and parameters disclosed herein are understood to encompassany and all subranges subsumed therein, and every number between theendpoints. For example, a stated range of “1 to 10” should be consideredto include any and all subranges between (and inclusive of) the minimumvalue of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginningwith a minimum value of 1 or more, (e.g. 1 to 6.1), and ending with, amaximum value of 10 or less, (e.g. 2,3 to 9,4, 3 to 8, 4 to 7), andfinally to each number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 1.0 containedwithin the range.

This completes the description of the preferred and alternateembodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognizeother equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein whichequivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attachedhereto.

1.-15. (canceled)
 16. A method of detecting a nonpolar contaminant in afluid having a polarity and a turbidity, comprising the steps of: a)providing a solvatochromatic tracer having a detectable change influorescence in the fluid that occurs in the presence of the nonpolarcontaminant, wherein the detectable change in the fluorescence includesa shifting fluorescence emission wavelength that shifts depending on thepolarity of the fluid; b) introducing the solvatochromatic tracer intothe fluid; c) measuring a fluorescent property of the solvatochromatictracer after the solvatochromatic tracer is introduced into the fluid;d) providing a correction factor that corresponds to the degree to whichthe turbidity of the fluid scatters the fluorescence of thesolvatochromatic tracer in the presence of the nonpolar contaminant andthat takes into account the shifting fluorescent emission wavelength ofthe solvatochromatic tracer; e) adjusting the detected fluorescenceproperty according to the correction factor to provide a correctedfluorescent property; and f) detecting the nonpolar contaminant in thefluid using the corrected fluorescent property.
 17. The method accordingto claim 16 wherein detecting the nonpolar contaminant in the fluidcomprises determining an amount of the nonpolar contaminant in thefluid.
 18. The method according to claim 16 wherein detecting thenonpolar contaminant in the fluid comprises detecting a presence of thenonpolar contaminant in the fluid.
 19. The method according to claim 16further comprising measuring turbidity emitted fluorescence of the fluidbefore the solvatochromatic tracer is introduced into the fluid.
 20. Themethod according to claim 19, wherein step d) further comprises usingthe measured turbidity emitted fluorescence of the fluid to determinethe correction factor.
 21. The method according to claim 16 wherein thefluorescent property is fluorescence emission λ_(max).
 22. The methodaccording to claim 16 in which the fluid comprises water.
 23. The methodof claim 16 in which the fluid is wastewater.
 24. The method accordingto claim 16 further comprising the step of adding a functional chemicalto the fluid in response to detecting the contaminant, the functionalchemical being suited to reduce, separate or inactivate the detectedcontaminant in the fluid.
 25. The method according to claim 16 whereinthe functional chemical comprises one or more selected from the groupconsisting of: a biocide, a dispersant, a flocculant, a surfactant, anemulsifier, a demulsifier, and a corrosion inhibitor.
 26. The method ofclaim 16 wherein the solvatochromatic tracer is9-(Diethylamino)-5H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-5-one.
 27. The method of claim 7,wherein the nonpolar contaminant comprises an oil.
 28. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the nonpolar contaminant comprises a grease.
 29. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the nonpolar contaminant comprises ahydrocarbon liquid.
 30. A method of detecting a nonpolar contaminant ina fluid having a polarity and a turbidity, comprising the steps of: a)introducing a solvatochromatic tracer into the fluid, wherein thesolvatochromatic tracer has a detectable change in fluorescence in thefluid that occurs in the presence of the nonpolar contaminant, whereinthe detectable change in the fluorescence includes a shiftingfluorescence emission wavelength that shifts depending on the polarityof the fluid and wherein the fluorescence has a detectable fluorescenceproperty that depends on an amount of the specific non-polar contaminantin the fluid; b) measuring a fluorescent property of the fluid afterintroducing the solvatochromatic tracer into the fluid; c) correctingthe measured fluorescence property taking into account the degree towhich the turbidity of the fluid scatters the fluorescence of thesolvatochromatic tracer in the presence of the nonpolar contaminant andthat takes into account the shifting fluorescent emission wavelength ofthe solvatochromatic tracer that shifts depending on the polarity of thefluid; and d) detecting the nonpolar contaminant in the fluid using thecorrected fluorescent property.
 31. A method of detecting a nonpolarcontaminant in a fluid having a polarity and a turbidity, comprising thesteps of: a) introducing a solvatochromatic tracer into the fluid,wherein the solvatochromatic tracer has a detectable change influorescence that occurs in the presence of the nonpolar contaminant,wherein the detectable change in the fluorescence includes a spectralshift depending on the polarity of the fluid; b) measuring a fluorescentproperty of the fluid after introducing the solvatochromatic tracer intothe fluid; c) correcting the measured fluorescence property to provide acorrected fluorescent property taking into account the degree to whichthe turbidity of the fluid scatters the fluorescence of thesolvatochromatic tracer in the presence of the nonpolar contaminant andthat takes into account the spectral shift; and d) detecting thenonpolar contaminant in the fluid using the corrected fluorescentproperty.
 32. A method of detecting a nonpolar contaminant in wastewaterhaving a polarity and a turbidity, comprising the steps of: a) adding asolvatochromatic tracer into a flowing fluid sample obtained from thewastewater, wherein the solvatochromatic tracer has a detectable changein fluorescence that occurs with changes in the amount of the nonpolarcontaminant in the fluid sample, wherein the detectable change in thefluorescence includes a spectral shift that depends on the polarity ofthe fluid sample; b) measuring the changing fluorescent property and thechanging spectral shift of the flowing fluid sample that includes theadded solvatochromatic tracer; c) correcting the changing measuredfluorescent property to provide a corrected fluorescent property thattakes into account the degree to which the turbidity of the wastewaterscatters the fluorescence of the solvatochromatic tracer in the presenceof the nonpolar contaminant and that takes into account the changingspectral shift; d) detecting the nonpolar contaminant in the wastewaterusing the corrected fluorescent property; and e) in response todetecting the nonpolar contaminant in the wastewater, adding afunctional chemical to the wastewater to treat the wastewater.
 33. Themethod according to claim 32 wherein detecting the nonpolar contaminantin the fluid comprises determining an amount of the nonpolar contaminantin the fluid.
 34. The method according to claim 32 wherein detecting thenonpolar contaminant in the fluid comprises detecting a presence of thenonpolar contaminant in the fluid.
 35. The method according to claim 32wherein the fluorescent property is fluorescence emission λ_(max). 36.The method of claim 32 wherein the functional chemical comprises one ormore selected from the group consisting of: a biocide, a dispersant, aflocculant, a surfactant, an emulsifier, a demulsifier, and a corrosioninhibitor.
 37. The method of claim 32 wherein the solvatochromatictracer is 9-(Diethylamino)-5H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-5-one.
 38. The methodof claim 32, further comprising repeating steps a) to d) after carryingout step e).
 39. The method of claim 32, wherein treating the wastewaterwith the functional chemical comprises reducing, separating orinactivating the nonpolar contaminant in the wastewater.
 40. The methodof claim 32, wherein the nonpolar contaminant comprises an oil.
 41. Themethod of claim 32, further comprising the step of measuring theturbidity emitted fluorescence of the wastewater before thesolvatochromatic tracer is added to the wastewater.
 42. The method ofclaim 26, wherein step c) comprises taking into account the measuredturbidity emitted fluorescence of the wastewater.
 43. A method ofdetecting a specific nonpolar contaminant in a fluid having a polarityand a turbidity, comprising the steps of: a) introducing asolvatochromatic tracer into the fluid, wherein the solvatochromatictracer has a detectable change in fluorescence in the fluid that occursin the presence of the specific nonpolar contaminant, wherein thedetectable change in the fluorescence includes a shifting fluorescenceemission wavelength that shifts depending on an amount of the specificnon-polar contaminant in the fluid; b) measuring a fluorescent propertyof the fluid after introducing the solvatochromatic tracer into thefluid, wherein the measured fluorescent property is a knowncharacteristic of the solvatochromatic tracer in the presence of thespecific nonpolar contaminant; c) correcting the measured fluorescenceproperty taking into account the degree to which the turbidity of thefluid scatters the fluorescence of the solvatochromatic tracer in thepresence of the specific nonpolar contaminant and that takes intoaccount the shifting fluorescent emission wavelength of thesolvatochromatic tracer that shifts depending on the polarity of thefluid; and d) detecting the specific nonpolar contaminant in the fluidusing the corrected fluorescent property.